If you've turned on the radio or TV recently, you've heard about the rising costs of college tuition and room and board expenses.  Even with financial aid available to today's college-bound students, cash-strapped families are looking for options.  Some are choosing to refinance their mortgages, while others are opting to buy second homes.

Yes, you read that right.  Families are saving money by buying second homes for their college kids.  While it may seem ludicrous at first, let's take at look at some of the benefits of buying a second home for your college student:

• Monthly mortgage payments may be less expensive than college room and board expenses.
• Many lenders have loan programs that provide the most benefit in the first 4-5 years of ownership - just in time for your kids to graduate.
• Interest on a second home is tax deductible.
• Owning a second home gives you an opportunity to build more equity and increase your net worth.
• Additional space or rooms can be rented for additional income.

More and more families are buying second homes to relieve themselves of the increasing financial burden of sending their kids to college, and so can you